Drag-line-bucket cleaner



March 25, 192%. 1,487,910

E. L. BARTMESS DRAG LINE BUCKET CLEANER Filed May 16. 1923 2Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES I INYVENTOR El Bat/aimless,

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L ATTORNEYS March 25, 1924, 1,487,910

E. L. BARTMESS DRAG LINE BUCKET CLEANER Filed May 16. 1923 2Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES 11v KEN TOR E .L Barimess, MZM

-Qflw A TTOR N F YS Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

lall ffifi STATES FATE"? EFFQE.

ERNEST LEE BARTMESS, OF PEKIN', ILLINOIS.

DRAG-LINE-BUCKET CLEANER.

Application filed May 16, 1923.

resident of Pekin, in the county of Ta'zewell and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drag- Line-BucketCleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to drag line buckets and shovels, especiallyadapted for moving dirt.

An important object of the invention is to provide simple means wherebythe dirt in the rear portion of a drag line bucket is loosened when thebucket is moved to its discharge position.

A further object is to provide a bucket of the character specifiedhaving positive means whereby air may enter the rear portion of thebucket and consequently prevent the formation of a vacuum as the dirt isdischarged.

A further object is to provide a bucket cleaning and vacuum relievingmember for shovels which is entirely automatic in operation, simple toinstall, and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bucket equipped with the improved dirtcleaning and air inlet means, a bucket being shown in its dirt-receivingposition,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the bucket,

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a cleaning bar embodied in the invention,

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View illustrating the means to slidablyconnect the cleaning bar to the bucket,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the drag line bucket equipped with theimproved cleaning and air inlet means, the bucket being in its dumpingposition, and

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig.1.

- In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a dragline bucket having its forward end open for the reception of dirt and asusual, the forward end of the bucket Serial No. 639,432.

is provided with teeth 6 by means of which the dirt is loosened andguided into the bucket.

The drawings, and particularly Figs. 1 and 5, illustrate that theforward end of the bucket has connection with a pulling chain 8 by meansof which the bucket may be drawn through dirt for loosening and" pickingup the same. Also, the upper portion of the bucket has connection with adump rope 10 which is trained about a dump sheave 11 and it will be seentha when the pull on the dump rope 10 is released, the forward portionof the bucket will drop about the axis of the trunnions 12 in the usualmanner so that the dirt confined within the bucket will be dumped.

In carrying out the invention, 1 provide a cleaning bar or scraper 14and extend the same across the curved rear end wall of the bucket. Thecleaning bar 14 is formed adjacent its ends with outwardly projectingarms 16 which pass through slots 17 and have connections with shortcables 18. The cables 18 are in turn connected to the spreader 20 whichoverhangs the bucket and serves as a spacer for the hoist chains 22. Thehoist chains 22 are connected to the casing 23 of the hoist sheave andit will be seen that the lower portions of the hoist chains 22 areconnected to the trunnions 12 so that the chains will hold the rearportion of the bucket up when the forward portion is dropped.

As previously stated, when the pull on the dump rope 10 is released, theforward portion of the bucket will move downwardly about the axes of thetrunnions 12 and since the chains 22 are taut, the spreaders 20connected thereto will engage the arms 16 and move the cleaner bar 14about the curved rear wall of the bucket.

That is to say, the spreader 20 is in the path of travel of the arm 12so that when the bucket is tilted, the cleaner bar will positively bemoved about the rear wall of the bucket for cleaning the same of dirt.

Furthermore, when the bucket is moved to its discharging position, airmay enter by way of the slot 17 and prevent the formation of a vacuum.The movement of the arms 16 in the slot 17 positively prevents the slotsfrom getting clogged by mud so that under no conditions could a vacuumbe created which would of course prevent the dirt from being eficientlydischarged.

Figs. 1, 3 and 4L illustrate that the cleaner bar 14 is held closely incontact with the inner side of the bucket by means of rollers 30 whichare carried by the arms 16 and contact with the outer wall of thebucket.

The inventive idea involved in this application may be carried outequally as well with a stiff bail or a chain bail and the operation is,entirely automatic. 1

Since the dumping cable governs the carrying position of the bucket, itis only necessary to adjust the short cables from the cleaner bar to thespreader to suit this position.

When loading the bucket, if the hoisting cable is tight, the cleanerwill be in position, and if not, dirt coming up the curved back wallwill force the cleaner up so that it will be engaged by the spreaderwhen the bucket is tilted.

When the bucket is tilted, the cleaner bar ispositively movedrcarwardly, owing to the weight of the bucket and the contents. Thecleaner bar not only scrapes the dirt from the back wall of the cleaner,but also gives what might be said to be an initial shove to the dirt sothat it is efficiently discharged.

Having thus described the invention, what spreader member overhangingthe bucket and arranged in the path of travel of said arms whereby topositively move the arms andthe cleaner bar rearwardly when'the bucketis tilted. V

2; The combination of a drag line bucket having a curved rear end wallprovided with slots, a cleaner bar in contact with the curved rearwall'of the bucket and having 7, arms extending through the slot, and aspreader member overhanging the bucket and arranged in the path oftravel of said arms whereby to positively move the arms and the cleanerbar rearwardly when the bucket is tilted, said slots'constituting airinlet means and said arms being adapted to maintain the slots free ofdirt.

3. The combination with a drag line bucket having trunnions, ofhoistingchains connected to said trunnions, a spreader spacing the chains, acleaner arranged within the bucket and having arms, cablesconnectoperatesaid cleaner bar, said arms formin ing the arms to said spreader, andanti-friction means carried by said arms and contacting with the outerside of the bucket,

said bucket being provided with a curved rear end wall having slotsreceiving said arms and adapted for the passage of air, said armsbeingadapted to maintain the slots free of dirt.

5. Anattachment for drag line buckets comprising a cleaner bar adaptedto bearranged in contact with the curved rear end wall of a drag linebucket and having arms adapted to be extended through the bucket, saidarms being adapted to be located in the path of travel of the spreaderbar of the bucket whereby the cleaner bar is positively operated whenthe bucket is tilted to its dirt discharging position.

6. An attachment for drag line buckets comprising a cleaner bar adaptedto be arranged within a drag line bucket and having arms arranged 1n thepath of travel of and adapted to be engaged by the spreader bar of thebucketswhereby the cleaner bar is positively operated when the bucket istilted.

7. An attachment for buckets comprising a cleaner bar adapted to bearranged in scraping engagement with the wall of a drag line bucket andhaving actuating members in the path of travel of andengaged by thespreader bar of a bucket whereby the cleaner bar is bucket is tilte p 8.The combination with a drag line bucket having its rear end wallprovided with slots, of a cleaner arranged in said bucket and havingarms movable in said slots to keep the slots clean. 7

9. The combination with a drag line bucket having slots, of a cleanerbararranged within the bucket and having arms movable through said slots, aspreader bar having connection with said bucket and adapted to engagesaid arms whereby to O b a means for keeping the slots clean.

ERNEST LEE BARTMEss.

positively operated when the

